Foreign Study Program in Africa
Frequently Asked Questions

• What arrangments have been made for student who need to see a doctor while on the FSP?
• What arrangments have been made for emergencies that may happen while on field trips?
• How will the group be transported in Africa?
• Is there a listing of important telephone numbers?
• How can I contact a student on the FSP?
• When can I reach someone at the Dartmouth Center?
• Are there good ways to stay up-to-date on events in Southern Africa?

Health/Medical Care

* What arrangments have been made for student who need to see a doctor while on the FSP?

In Pretoria, our principal base this Fall Term '03, we will use one of the 24-hour clinics maintained around the University of Pretoria, as we have in the past. As in past years, our primary care physician continues to be Dr. Philda de Jager, who is also the personal physician for several of our Pretoria staff and their families. (Dr. de Jager is also one of the team doctors for the South African Olympic team.)

Medical Lifestyles
Toll Free Phone: 0800 199 533
Clinic: (27) (11) 4822 980
Contact: Dr. Philda de Jager

* What arrangments have been made for emergencies that may happen while on field trips?

Each student and all faculty members will be registered with a South African Medical Air Rescue Service. This service operates emergency aircraft throughout South Africa ans will evacuate emergency cases from the national parks to hospitals in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

* How will the group be transported in Africa?

While the students are attending classes in Pretoria they will be transported to and from their urban homestay family by private family car. On occasion, the program may provide for a van service. In the past, the homestay families have also car-pooled students.

For field trips, the students and directors will travel by office coach (bus) companies, and/or by vans driven by licensed and appropriate drivers. These drivers will be the Dartmouth faculty members and other university instructors.

* Is there a listing of important telephone numbers?

A list of telephone numbers (the Director's home, homestay family, doctors, etc.) is provided to each student during Orientation in Pretoria. A copy will be sent to all parents by the ENVS main office at Dartmouth.

* How can I contact a student on the AFSP?

MAIL

All mail should be sent to:

Your student's name
C/O M. Dobson
University of Pretoria
Centre for Environmental Studies
Geography Building Room 2/1
Pretoria 0002
South Africa

No items of value should be mailed to an AFSP student while he/she is in Africa. Customs may charge a duty against the declared value and the student will have to pay this amount before claiming the package. Packages are also sometimes opened.

EMAIL

Email is the best way to communicate, if possible. The students will have access to email at cybercafes just down the street from the University of Pretoria. Students are encouraged to keep their Dartmouth Blitzmail acounts active and to log-on to them from Africa.

TELEPHONE

Another good way to reach your student is through his/her urban homestay family's private home telephone. These are available for in-coming international calls only, but are severely restricted for out-going calls because of the enormous expense. International calls are extremely expensive. Students should bring an AT&T (or other server) International Calling Card with them to use.

Your student will be urged to email you his/her homestay parents' telephone number as soon as your student is settled in (around 22-23 September 2003).

The Directors may also be reached by their home phone. That number will be given to students upon their arrival in Pretoria. It will also be sent to parents and the ENVS main office.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SOUTHERN AFRICA IS 7 (SEVEN!) HOURS AHEAD OF THE UNITED STATES EAST COAST. THEREFORE, THE BEST TIMES TO CALL ARE BETWEEN NOON (1200) AND 2 PM (1400) EST.

* Are there good ways to stay up-to-date on events in Southern Africa?

One of the best ways to keep in touch with events on the ground is through the independent news sources. www.cnn.com, www.bbc.co.uk